Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.

The Americans: The Noose Tightens

There’s not a lot of Chinese food in Moscow, Gregory. Also, that’s how you make googly eyes, Carrie Matthison. You just got Felicity’d.

“Things just got all crazy, you know?” – Phillip

Yes, they did, Phillip. Yes. They. Did.

Will Phillip and Elizabeth be able to get back to normal after causing the death of FBI agent Chris Amador? Agent Gaad addresses his fellow agents and pledges to find whoever did this. (He does this a lot). The events of the last 24 hours have certainly affected Stan. He isn’t even wearing a shirt and tie to work anymore. Just call him Sweater Stan for now, thanks. Agent Gaad tells him not to worry about the whole shooting Vlad in the back of the head thing. That kind of thing happens. Feeling down in the dumps, Stan seeks out Phillip in his dingy hotel room. He tells Phillip about how he found his partner murdered tonight. Apparently, Amador wore a ring but it wasn’t found on his body. Elizabeth and Phillip swept the warehouse and Gregory swept his car but it never turned up. Stan yammers at Phillip for about half of a beer and then takes off. Well, that was a short visit.

Stan and Nina meet at the safe house to discuss who killed Vlad and who killed Amador. Nobody knows anything of course. Nina mentions that they received a threatening call at the Rezidentura to release Amador or else Vlad would be killed. Later, they are told that Vlad died in a mugging. Vlad’s uncle was a colonel in the Red Army and convinced Vlad to join the KGB. He really wanted to be a doctor and was going to medical school next year. Will this information be relevant to the endgame of the season? My magic 8-ball says “yes.”

The next 30 minutes or so of the episode are very procedural. “A” leads to “B” and “B” leads to “C.” That’s not to say this sequence is boring – anything but! As the pieces fall into place, the threads of Elizabeth and Phillip’s cover story start to unravel. It turns out that when Chris was alone with his thoughts of certain death in the trunk of Phillip’s car, he removed his ring and hid it in a corner of the trunk. Gregory never found it and then he turned the car over to his helpers who ditched the car at an impound lot, hoping it would be fed to Monster T-Rex by the morning. Unfortunately, the FBI puts the word out to all the pawn shops to be looking for it. They get a hit and track down the owner of the impound lot. After some strong-arming by Stan, he admits that a few guys dropped off the car last night, the same guys that have done work for him in the past. Stan interrogates him “downtown” like a good cop and he’s able to identify one of Gregory’s men. Stan recognizes him as the same man he chased through the streets of Philadelphia earlier in the season. The plot thickens.

The FBI storms his apartment and apprehends him. At this point, Grannie and her team of agents know that the circle is closing in, especially on Gregory. They do exactly what you would expect the KGB to do and throw Gregory an anchor as he’s drowning. They break into his apartment and plant evidence pointing to the murder of Amador. It’ll be an airtight case and he will be tried for murder/treason. ORRRRRR…. how would you like to move to Moscow and learn Russian under a blanket of vodka ice for the rest of your life? Gregory tells Grannie that he would prefer to start his life over in beautiful 1980’s Compton, California, US of A. Compton, Moscow… Compton, Moscow… hmmm, that’s a tough choice.

Stan comes home to Sandra after his terrible, no good, day at the office. He says they know who killed Amador but Stan’s not at peace yet. Even after all he’s put her through, she would like nothing more than for him to quit his job and run away with her and their son Matthew.

Gregory doesn’t know how much time he has left. He makes what could be his final plea to Elizabeth: “Even if I can’t have you, leave Phillip. He’s only making you weaker.” Elizabeth wants him to come with her and go to Moscow. Instead, he plans on getting in a ridiculous gunfight with the police to save their hides and die for Mother Russia. Elizabeth and Phillip acquiesce and let him walk out the door. Elizabeth goes home to have a cry. Phillip goes home to his seedy hotel room and orders a pizza.

Gregory goes through with his plan and starts a shoot ‘em up with the MPDC. It does not end well for Gregory.

Last week, we lost Amador. This week, we lose Gregory. Losing Gregory hurt a lot more. I felt there was so much more to explore with the character about his early relationship with Elizabeth. However, I suppose a lesser show would keep him around longer and have him take part in some kind of “weekly caper” with the KGB gang. The forward momentum at this point in the season is just shy of too much. These last two episodes could easily have lead directly into the finale but there are still three episodes remaining. Fasten your seatbelt.

I loved the final sequence of the episode set to the Roberta Flack song. The gunfight followed by Elizabeth going home and sobbing to herself. It was a private moment and not one she could share with anyone, even us, as I felt her imperceptibly turn away from the camera. Elizabeth loved Gregory, even more so than she ever loved Phillip. How will she rebound from this?

I was for some reason thinking about Homeland this week and how that show portends to be a spy drama but in reality, according to the showrunners, at least, is a relationship drama between Carrie and Brody. I contend that it is no such thing and have never once bought the googly eyes those two make at each other. It works best as a spy drama showing a mostly realistic modern day terrorism story. What about The Americans? Is it a spy drama or a relationship drama? In this case, I actually agree with the producers. This is about Phillip and Elizabeth navigating their tricky relationship. This is about Stan and Sandra fighting to hold it together. The fact that this is takes place in the 80s through the prism of Cold War tensions is just set dressing. The quiet moments in their kitchens are some of the most edge of your seat scenes of the entire show and one of the main reasons I love it so much.

Thanks for reading and sorry this entry was a little tardy. I have a litany of excuses if you’d like to hear them but let’s focus on the fact that “Covert War” starts in less than 24 hours.

“You can’t be married and not have secrets.” – Stan

“I’m not going to Moscow.” – Gregory. RIP.

The Americans airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on FX. Three episodes remain in season 1 but FX already renewed it for season 2.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.